NEW WINNIPEG COMPLEX WILL PROVIDE SAFE, AFFORDABLE, SUPPORTIVE HOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS: SELINGER

The province will help Winnipeg’s Sara Riel Foundation build an integrated 28-unit complex that will provide safe and affordable housing for families and adults with mental illnesses, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“As a government, we recognize one of the greatest needs of people with a mental illness is for secure and affordable housing with appropriate support,” said Selinger. “This new complex will provide safe, non-profit housing for adults living with mental-health challenges, making a real difference in people’s lives.”

The complex, at 210 Kenny St. in St. Boniface, will incorporate mobility-enhanced features and include 16 one-bedroom units, seven two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units. Fourteen of the 28 units will be classified as supportive housing.

The rent for 14 of the units will be available to tenants based on income. Sara Riel Inc. will provide on-site services that support a tenant’s goal to achieve and maintain permanent housing.

The Sara Riel Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides assistance to Sara Riel Inc. (SRI) and other charitable works in Canada. SRI was established by the Grey Nuns of Manitoba and is a sponsored work of the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba. Both organizations are served by a volunteer board of directors and help individuals with mental-health needs and their families.

The province is helping fund the new complex with $8.2 million from HOMEWorks!, Manitoba’s long‑term housing strategy. Under this strategy, the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada continue to make significant investments in the development of social and affordable housing, said Selinger, adding the province has promised the delivery of 1,500 affordable housing units across Manitoba and is approaching commitments for 1,000 units.

HOMEWorks! supports ALL Aboard, Manitoba’s poverty reduction strategy, by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans. More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.

The premier also announced an additional $400,000 from Manitoba Health for mental-health support services at Sara Riel.

“Housing is a basic requirement for good physical and mental health,” said Selinger. “Organizations like Sara Riel assist in meeting the needs of people with a mental illness and this funding will help provide services to those who may be vulnerable to homelessness.”

The funding supports the provincial mental-health strategic plan Rising to the Challenge, which identifies working with partners to improve access to safe, affordable housing and supports for people with mental-health issues as a key strategic action.

Today’s announcement supports the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI). The initiative is a partnership established by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg to address homelessness and revitalize Winnipeg’s older neighbourhoods.

From 2000 to 2012, the WHHI partners committed almost $185 million to repair, rehabilitate or construct more than 8,400 housing units, assisting those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The WHHI is a single-window office for community organizations to access information on government-funded housing programs. For more information, visit www.whhi.ca.

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For more information:

Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.